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It’s no secret that here at Bored Panda we’re fond of all sorts of content, be it something mind-blowing or mildly interesting. And today, it’s the latter we’re focusing on, as we’re taking some time to appreciate the best of the best of the ‘Mildly Interesting’ subreddit.

Below you will find a collection of some of the most mildly interesting posts from the sub we’ve ever shed light on, which might take you down memory lane if you have followed us for quite some time already. If you’re just starting now, welcome and enjoy some of the most amusing, random, unexpected, and just mildly interesting content.

Seeking to learn more about what makes us curious about such content, Bored Panda got in touch with two experts in curiosity, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Williams College in Massachusetts, Dr. Susan Engel, and behavioral expert, author, speaker and consultant, Dr. Diane Hamilton, who agreed to answer a few of our questions on the topic. You will find their thoughts in the text below.

#3

The Way Our Wallpaper Installer Covered The Vent

The Way Our Wallpaper Installer Covered The Vent

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One might wonder, what can be so captivating about something that is only mildly interesting to make a netizen browse such content for hours? While the answer to that likely differs with each person, chances are that all of them are led by curiosity; to some extent, at least.

“Curiosity motivates a wide range of behaviors. It makes us open a bag when we don’t know what’s inside, ask friends a million questions, look things up, scan a new situation, and test our predictions—will this hold me up if I step on it, for instance?” Dr. Susan Engel told Bored Panda, adding that every person is different in regards to the level of curiosity and what it is directed at.

#4

Cafe I Went To In Indianapolis Is A No-Tipping Establishment

Cafe I Went To In Indianapolis Is A No-Tipping Establishment

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Mark
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty much standard in most places outside of the US, unless exceptional service

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#5

Someone Placed A Small Stick On Each Of The Dog Graves In This Cemetery

Someone Placed A Small Stick On Each Of The Dog Graves In This Cemetery

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“A combination of factors determine a person’s level and kind of curiosity,” Dr. Engel continued, pointing out that curiosity tends to be associated, to some degree, with levels of intelligence. “It’s also deeply influenced by the way adults spoke with you when you were very young and associated with temperament, too; with how comfortable you are with novelty, for instance.”

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#6

There Is A House Near Me That Looks Like It’s Out Of A Fairytale

There Is A House Near Me That Looks Like It’s Out Of A Fairytale

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#7

This Cute Wizard Made Out Of Soap Is My Son’s First Try At Whittling

This Cute Wizard Made Out Of Soap Is My Son’s First Try At Whittling

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#8

This Bookshelf In Tallinn Airport

This Bookshelf In Tallinn Airport

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“Curiosity is the magic potion that leads to learning, which makes it all the more important that parents and teachers nurture it in childhood,” Engel told Bored Panda.

Data suggests that quite a few people see said potion as a key element of a successful future. A survey carried out in 2018 found that as much as 94% of parents believe that curious children are more likely to become successful adults.

#9

Our Teacher Had Us Do Word Searches In Asl To Practice Finger Spelling

Our Teacher Had Us Do Word Searches In Asl To Practice Finger Spelling

First_Bike_82 Report

#10

A German Supermarket Pulled All The Russian Products In Its Russian Aisle And Replaced Them With Sunflower Seeds

A German Supermarket Pulled All The Russian Products In Its Russian Aisle And Replaced Them With Sunflower Seeds

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Corvus
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Context: When asked what she wanted, an Ukrainian elderly lady told a Russian soldier to have sunflower seeds in his pockets, so that when he gets killed, a sunflower would grow from his grave...

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According to another expert, Dr. Diane Hamilton, curiosity plays a role in every aspect of our day-to-day lives. “Our curiosity determines our interest in doing things, from whether we want to learn something new, hike a new trail, or seek a job that fulfills us,” she told Bored Panda.

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“Without curiosity, we would be in limbo, remaining in status-quo behaviors and leading rather dull lives. That is a significant problem in the workplace and why I work with so many organizations to build a culture of curiosity. When we spark curiosity, we create innovation, engagement, and productivity.”

#13

A House In My Neighborhood Has These Plaques Outside Commemorating Former Residents Who Became Victims Of The Holocaust

A House In My Neighborhood Has These Plaques Outside Commemorating Former Residents Who Became Victims Of The Holocaust

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Pandageddon
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

„Stolpersteine“ - „Stumbling Stones“ they can be found all over europe - every stone contains the dates of the ( jewish) human who was murdered by the nazis during the NS period. Siegfried Funkenstein: shot while trying to escape - Paula Funkenstein: murdered in Ausschwitz - Ilse Funkenstein: unknown - Rolf Funkenstein: murdered in Ausschwitz.

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#14

What Happens When You Grow A Pumkin Inside A Plastic Mold

What Happens When You Grow A Pumkin Inside A Plastic Mold

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According to Dr. Hamilton, we are all born with high curiosity levels, but they decline at around the age of five. “My research for the Curiosity Code Index (CCI) found that four things inhibit curiosity and reduce our levels: fear, assumptions, technology, and environment (FATE).

“Firstly, we often fear asking questions for fear of looking stupid. Secondly, the voice in our head might tell us that it assumes we won't like something because it would be too difficult. Thirdly, we might over- or under-utilize technology, and lastly, everyone in our environment—family, friends, teachers, and anyone with whom we have had contact—might influence our curiosity through their lack of support.”

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#17

My Chickens Greeting Me When I Come Home From Work

My Chickens Greeting Me When I Come Home From Work

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Rebecca O’Donnell
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a farm I used to deliver to when I was a letter carrier. The first and only time I left the truck door open to deliver a parcel by their door I came back to my truck full of chickens. :)

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The same way fears, technology, and people do, culture, too, can influence our curiosity. Dr. Hamilton, who discussed the topic in two of her books—Cracking the Curiosity Code and The Power of Perception—told Bored Panda: 

“Culture falls into the environmental category, which is one of the four factors of FATE. Anyone in our circle of influence, like friends, family, and others, shows us how our culture accepts or rejects our actions.

“Culture is a significant influencer and teaches us if something is a good or wrong way to behave. Consider a culture where women are not supposed to work. Then, a woman's curiosity about job potential would be quite different.”

#18

These Kittens With Perfect Moustache Patterns

These Kittens With Perfect Moustache Patterns

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#19

I Like To Make Little Drawings Of People That I See

I Like To Make Little Drawings Of People That I See

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LillieMean
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are adorable and skillfully made! I immediately felt like I wanted to color these.

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#20

This Bar That Decorated Its Bar Top With The Confiscated Fake Ids Of College Students

This Bar That Decorated Its Bar Top With The Confiscated Fake Ids Of College Students

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Closely linked with another inhibitor of curiosity, technology, the internet seems to be a double-edged sword when it comes to a person’s eagerness to familiarize themselves with the unknown.

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“I think for some people, online access to information is a boon to curiosity,” Dr. Engel shared. “And research has shown that feeding curiosity is the best way to increase it. So, being able to answer one’s questions online can fuel the fire of curiosity.

“On the other hand, answering a specific question—when did the continents break apart, how is Alzheimer's diagnosed, what is neoliberalism, for instance—is very different from surfing the internet for distraction and passive entertainment. To the extent that those activities preoccupy people, the internet depresses curiosity.”

#21

Locals In Puerto Rico Painted This Mural. They Made Sure To Include The Dog That Chills There Often

Locals In Puerto Rico Painted This Mural. They Made Sure To Include The Dog That Chills There Often

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Idgafwyt AllDat'N'ABagOfChips
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curious if they were able to get pup to move or if they just painted around him? So cool that the dog knows exactly where to lay down.

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#22

This Is What Happens When You Put Horizontal Mirrors On A Shack In The Desert

This Is What Happens When You Put Horizontal Mirrors On A Shack In The Desert

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“Internet content can spark curiosity by putting images out there that intrigue us,” Dr. Hamilton pointed out. “Sometimes, a picture brings back a memory from childhood. Like that voice in our heads that told us we might not like something or things might be too hard, sometimes that voice can be positive, telling us that an image was something we enjoyed. There is little risk of clicking on a picture to see what intrigued us. When we are safely behind a screen, it can make us more adventurous to explore random pictures.”

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If you want to see how browsing random images affects your curiosity, check out this guy photoshopping himself into random pictures next; but if you’d rather stick to something you already know to be at least ‘Mildly Interesting’, feel free to scroll through our previous editions on the subreddit here or here.

#24

Flowers On A Wall That Look Like A Gradient

Flowers On A Wall That Look Like A Gradient

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#26

What Happens When You Swing A String Of Glow Sticks With Burning Steel Wool At The End And Take A Long Exposure Photo

What Happens When You Swing A String Of Glow Sticks With Burning Steel Wool At The End And Take A Long Exposure Photo

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#29

This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait

This Crack In The Pavement Filled With A Stained Glass Cat Portrait

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#30

My Rhododendron Looks Like It's Trying To Run Off

My Rhododendron Looks Like It's Trying To Run Off

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#31

Crosswalk Projected On A Dirty Winter Road

Crosswalk Projected On A Dirty Winter Road

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#32

My Beer 4-Pack Came With Paperboard Rings, Instead Of Plastic

My Beer 4-Pack Came With Paperboard Rings, Instead Of Plastic

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#33

Found A Snoopy House On My Walk

Found A Snoopy House On My Walk

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#34

This Is What Happens When A Lightning Hits Beach Sand

This Is What Happens When A Lightning Hits Beach Sand

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Corvus
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The heat instantly turns the sand into glass, so the lightning is "preserved."

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#35

This Is What Happens When You Polish A Coconut

This Is What Happens When You Polish A Coconut

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#36

Saw This Logo For A Pet Grooming Service On My Drive Home

Saw This Logo For A Pet Grooming Service On My Drive Home

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#37

The Way My Windscreen Froze

The Way My Windscreen Froze

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#39

The Roof Of This Small Chapel Collapsed, And Instead Of Rebuilding It Normally They Made It Out Of Glass

The Roof Of This Small Chapel Collapsed, And Instead Of Rebuilding It Normally They Made It Out Of Glass

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#41

This Is What Happens When You Heat An Ordinary Marble Over A Flame Then Immediately Drop It Into Cold Water

This Is What Happens When You Heat An Ordinary Marble Over A Flame Then Immediately Drop It Into Cold Water

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#42

An Old TV Repurposed Into A Cat Bed For My Cat’s Birthday

An Old TV Repurposed Into A Cat Bed For My Cat’s Birthday

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#43

The Wear And Scuff-Marks On This Boat Look Like An Island In The Sea

The Wear And Scuff-Marks On This Boat Look Like An Island In The Sea

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#45

What Happens When 50 Mph Winds, Freezing Temperatures And Lake Erie Hits Your House

What Happens When 50 Mph Winds, Freezing Temperatures And Lake Erie Hits Your House

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#46

This Elevator Has Giant Buttons You Can Push With Your Feet

This Elevator Has Giant Buttons You Can Push With Your Feet

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Virgil Blue
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see these in hospitals in the elevators used for transporting patients in beds.

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#47

What Happens When The Mist Around A Waterfall Freezes

What Happens When The Mist Around A Waterfall Freezes

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#49

Today In Copenhagen There Was Car Free Sunday

Today In Copenhagen There Was Car Free Sunday

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Emerald Joanna
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay I thought that said CAT free Sunday & I just about lost my 💩 and blew a fufu valve...

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#50

My Bachelor's Degree Is Signed By Arnold Schwarzenegger

My Bachelor's Degree Is Signed By Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Note: this post originally had 125 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.